[Section 409A]. The provisions regarding all payments to be made hereunder shall be interpreted in such a manner that all such payments either comply with Section 409A of the Code or are exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code as “short-term deferrals” as described in Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that any amounts payable hereunder are determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, such amounts shall be subject to such additional rules and requirements as specified by the Committee from time to time in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code and the payment of any such amounts may not be accelerated or delayed except to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code. The Company makes no representation or warranty and shall have no liability to any Participant or any other person if any payments under any provisions of this Plan are determined to constitute deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code that are subject to the twenty percent (20%) additional tax under Section 409A of the Code.

The provisions regarding all payments to be made hereunder shall be interpreted in such a manner that all such payments either comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or are exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code as “short-term deferrals” as described in Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that any amounts payable hereunder are determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, such amounts shall be subject to such additional rules and requirements as specified by the Committee from time to time in order to comply with Section 409A of the Code and the payment of any such amounts may not be accelerated or delayed except to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code. The Company makes no representation or warranty and shall have no liability to any Non-Employee Director or any other person if any payments under any provisions of the Director Compensation Plan are determined to constitute deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code that are subject to the twenty percent (20%) additional tax under Section 409A of the Code.

All payments of “non-qualified deferred compensation” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A) under this Plan, whether or not expressly designated as such, are intended to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A, and shall be interpreted in accordance therewith. Neither the Participant nor the Company may accelerate any such deferred payment, except in compliance with Code Section 409A for such events that include but may not be limited to a termination of the Plan.

To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Agreement and any payment made hereunder shall comply with the requirements of section 409A of the Code or any exemption or exclusion therefrom, and any related regulations or other guidance promulgated with respect to such section by the Internal Revenue Service ("Code section 409A") and shall in all respects be administered in accordance with Code section 409A. Any provision that would cause this Agreement or any payment hereof to fail to satisfy Code section 409A shall have no force or effect until amended to comply with Code section 409A in the least restrictive manner necessary and without any diminution in the value of the payments to the Employee, which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by Code section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount or benefit that would constitute "nonqualified deferred compensation" under Code section 409A would otherwise be payable or distributable hereunder by reason of the Employee's termination of employment, such amount or benefit will not be payable or distributable to the Employee by reason of such circumstance unless # the circumstances giving rise to such termination of employment meet any description or definition of "separation from service" in Code section 409A or # the payment or distribution of such amount or benefit would be exempt from the application of Code section 409A by reason of the short-term deferral exemption or otherwise. If this provision prevents the payment or distribution of any amount or benefit, such payment or distribution shall be made on the date, if any, on which an event occurs that constitutes a Code section 409A-compliant "separation from service."

To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Agreement and any payment made hereunder shall comply with the requirements of section 409A of the Code or any exemption or exclusion therefrom, and any related regulations or other guidance promulgated with respect to such section by the Internal Revenue Service ("Code section 409A") and shall in all respects be administered in accordance with Code section 409A. Any provision that would cause this Agreement or any payment hereof to fail to satisfy Code section 409A shall have no force or effect until amended to comply with Code section 409A in the least restrictive manner necessary and without any diminution in the value of the payments to the Executive, which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by Code section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount or benefit that would constitute "nonqualified deferred compensation" under Code section 409A would otherwise be payable or distributable hereunder by reason of the Employee's termination of employment, such amount or benefit will not be payable or distributable to the Executive by reason of such circumstance unless # the circumstances giving rise to such termination of employment meet any description or definition of "separation from service" in Code section 409A or # the payment or distribution of such amount or benefit would be exempt from the application of Code section 409A by reason of the short-term deferral exemption or otherwise. If this provision prevents the payment or distribution of any amount or benefit, such payment or distribution shall be made on the date, if any, on which an event occurs that constitutes a Code section 409A-compliant "separation from service."

The Plan as well as payments and benefits under the Plan are intended to be exempt from, or to the extent subject thereto, to comply with Section 409A of the Code, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted in accordance therewith. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the Participant shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service with the Company for purposes of the Plan and no payment shall be due to the Participant under the Plan or any Award until the Participant would be considered to have incurred a “separation from service” from the Company and its Affiliates within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent that any Awards (or any other amounts payable under any plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any of its Affiliates) are payable upon a separation from service and such payment would result in the imposition of any individual tax and penalty interest charges imposed under Section 409A of the Code, the settlement and payment of such awards (or other amounts) shall instead be made on the first business day after the date that is six (6) months following such separation from service (or death, if earlier). Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided under this Plan shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. The Company makes no representation that any or all of the payments or benefits described in this Plan will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to any such payment. The Participant shall be solely responsible for the payment of any taxes and penalties incurred under Section 409A.

The Plan as well as payments and benefits under the Plan are intended to be exempt from, or to the extent subject thereto, to comply with Section 409A of the Code, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted in accordance therewith. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, the Participant shall not be considered to have terminated employment or service with the Company for purposes of the Plan and no payment shall be due to the Participant under the Plan or any Award until the Participant would be considered to have incurred a “separation from service” from the Company and its Affiliates within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless Applicable Law requires otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent that any Awards (or any other amounts payable under any plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any of its Affiliates) are payable upon a separation from service and such payment would result in the imposition of any individual tax and penalty interest charges imposed under Section 409A of the Code, the settlement and payment of such awards (or other amounts) shall instead be made on the first business day after the date that is six (6) months following such separation from service (or death, if earlier). Each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided under this Plan shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. The Company makes no representation that any or all of the payments or benefits described in this Plan will be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code and makes no undertaking to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to any such payment. The Participant shall be solely responsible for the payment of any taxes and penalties incurred under Section 409A.

Code Section 409A. This Plan is drafted with the intent that all payments or benefits provided hereunder will be exempt from Code Section 409A to the maximum extent possible under the law, and the Plan shall be construed and operated as necessary to comply with such intent. For purposes of Code Section 409A, all payments under the Plan shall be deemed separate payments and shall not be aggregated with any other payment. This Plan shall be administered and interpreted to maximize the short-term deferral exemption to [Section 409A]. The portion of any payment under this Plan that is paid within the short-term deferral period (within the meaning of Code Section 409A) shall be treated as a short-term deferral. Any other portion of a payment that does not meet the short-term deferral requirement shall, to the maximum extent possible, be deemed to satisfy the exception from Code Section 409A for involuntary separation pay. A participant shall not, directly or indirectly, designate the taxable year of a payment made under this Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, if any payment or benefit is deferred compensation subject to Section 409A, and solely to the extent required by [Section 409A], if a participant is a Key Employee, then any such payments shall be delayed by six (6) months and paid on the first business day of the seventh month following the participant’s Separation from Service or, if earlier, his date of death, and the amount of such accumulated delayed payments shall be credited with interest during such six-month period at a rate computed using 120% of the short-term applicable federal rate for a semi-annual compounding period under Code Section 1274(d), applicable for the month in which the participant’s Separation from Service occurs, provided that such interest rate shall not exceed 120% of the long-term applicable federal interest rate under Code Section 1274(d). The identification of a participant as a Key Employee shall be made by the Company in accordance with Section 1.7 of the Plan and sections 416(i) and 409A of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Any provision of the Plan that is noncompliant with Code Section 409A shall be deemed to be amended to comply with Code Section 409A, or if it cannot be so amended, shall be void. The Employer does not guarantee or warrant the tax consequences of the Plan, and the participants shall in all cases be liable for any taxes due with respect to Plan.

It is intended that payment will be made no later than required to ensure that no amount paid or to be paid hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and all payments are intended to be eligible for the short-term deferral exception to Section 409A of the Code, or to otherwise be compliant with Section 409A of the Code and the guidance promulgated thereunder (“[Section 409A]”). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the Committee shall administer and interpret, and the Company shall operate, the Plan, and exercise all authority and discretion under the Plan, to satisfy the requirements for exemption from, or compliance with, [Section 409A] and any noncompliant provisions of this Plan will either be void or deemed amended to comply with Section 409A. Nothing in the Plan shall provide a basis for any person to take action against the Company or any Subsidiary or affiliate based on matters covered by [Section 409A], including the tax treatment of any award, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates shall under any circumstances have any liability to any Participant or his estate or any other party for any taxes, penalties or interest due on amounts paid or payable under the Plan, including taxes, penalties or interest imposed under Section 409A.

Compliance with Code Section 409A. It is intended that any compensation, benefits or other remuneration which is provided pursuant to or in connection with the Plan which is considered to be nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A shall be provided and paid in a manner, and at such time and in such form, including application of a six-month delay for specified employees in certain circumstances, as complies with the applicable requirements of Code Section 409A to avoid the unfavorable tax consequences provided therein for non-compliance. Where an Award provides or may provide nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A, the Agreement will set forth the requirements under Code Section 409A and additionally no elective deferral of payment or settlement of the Award shall be permitted unless the elective deferral provisions therefor are set out in the Agreement or in another written document authorized by the Committee in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee is authorized to amend any Award Agreement and to amend or declare void any election by a Participant as may be determined by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate to evidence or further evidence required compliance with Code Section 409A. The Committee, however, shall have no responsibility or liability if any Award is subject to adverse taxation under Code Section 409A.